Bed bugs can infest any home. There is no sure-fire way to stop them from getting inside, but there are some precautions you can take to reduce the risk. But keep in mind that since bed bugs hide so well and reproduce so quickly, it can be challenging to eliminate them with only one initial treatment.

Reduce Clutter and Clean

You wouldn’t want to play hide-and-seek without anywhere to hide, right? Neither do bed bugs. You can minimize the places they hide by simply eliminating clutter.

Use a stiff brush to scrub mattress seams to expose the bed bugs and their eggs, then vacuum them up! If you vacuum frequently, you can remove bed bugs that were moving from one location to another. After you’ve finished vacuuming, you must remove the vacuum bag, place it in a sealed plastic container, and remove it from your home immediately to stop them from getting out and re-infesting the place.

A light-colored protective cover on mattresses (or any furniture) will not only reduce bed bugs, but will also make it easier to spot their signs. Since the cover is light in color, you’ll be able to see the staining and skin they leave behind easily. If they are already in the mattress, the protective cover will trap the bed bugs; if you keep that on your mattress for more than a year, all the bed bugs inside will die.

If you buy used furniture, check it for signs of an infestation before you make the purchase. If it has any signs of a bed bug infestation, do not take the risk.

Heat Treatment

Regularly wash and heat-dry your sheets and clothing – this will kill at least some bed bugs. But be careful if you use shared laundry facilities as others may not know if they have an infestation or take as much care.

Portable heating chambers are great to treat any items that you think may have bed bugs. Heating chambers eliminate all stages of bed bugs by heating the contents for a sustained period of time. The chambers come in different sizes, so you can treat as small or as large an item as you need. That being said, this treatment is more likely to work if you hire a professional.

Licensed professionals with good references and reviews know how to properly handle heat-sensitive items so they don’t melt or get damaged. However, this does not guarantee that you won’t get bed bugs again in the future, so after they have been eliminated, make sure to take precautionary measures to prevent them from coming back.

Cold Treatment

Cold temperatures can kill bed bugs, but standard residential freezers may not get cold enough to do the job properly. Bed bugs can go dormant when they get cold, so they can appear dead for several days before springing back to life! If this is the treatment you would like to use, it would be best to hire a professional.

But What if I’m Going on Vacation?

There are some precautions you can take even if you’re travelling! Inspect your hotel room before you settle and unpack, keep suitcases closed when you’re not using them, and keep your belongings off the floor. This isn’t a guarantee to keep your luggage parasite-free, but it will reduce your risk of bringing any home.

Bed bugs can infest any home, no matter how messy or clean. The best thing you can do is take precautionary measures and act immediately if you start seeing signs of an infestation.

How to Remove & Better Prevent Bed Bug Infestations